Only 97 city high rises have occupancy certificates

BELAGAVI: IT City may be dotted with hundreds of high-rises, but only 97, including residential apartments, are legally deemed fit to occupy. These are the only ones to get all clearances, including occupancy certificates (OCs) from the BBMP, the legislative assembly was told on Tuesday.

Replying to KR Ramesh Kumar (Congress), chief minister Siddaramaiah said he was not aware of buildings being constructed in violation of rules or OCs being issued to buildings which deviate from the sanctioned plans. The figure of 97 buildings being issued OCs was furnished by the urban development department.

"High-rise buildings are defined as those measuring over 15 metres. Only 97 high-rise buildings in the city have obtained OCs between 2009 and 2014. We'll inspect apartments above 15 metres in Bengaluru and initiate stern action against builders violating construction norms," he said.

Siddaramaiah asserted that his government is not under the spell of the builders' lobby and would not hesitate to take action against them, however strong and influential they may be.

An OC is given by local authorities, when a building is constructed in accordance with the sanctioned plan. Often owners and builders violate bylaws after obtaining the plan. If the plan is sanctioned for an apartment complex, the owner constructs a commercial complex, violating laws. Similarly, floor area ratio (FAR) and the number of floors are also flouted. In such cases, the OC is be given.

Kumar sought to know why the government wanted to bring in Akrama-Sakrama (regularizing deviation in constructions) across the state, if there were no deviations in building plans.

BJP member CT Ravi said there were as many as 9,000 high-rise buildings in Bengaluru and a majority were illegal constructions. His party member LA Ravi Subramanya said fake OCs are in circulation and over 500 buildings have obtained fake OCs and commencement certificates (CC).

Kumar maintained that a mafia is operating in the BBMP, which ensures the government never gets to know how many high-rise buildings are being constructed in the city. He accused builders from outside the state of grossly violating building norms.

Siddaramaiah said the government will get a detailed report on the issue and take suitable action against builders who flout the building bylaws. This would be done by constituting an inquiry panel.

Layout on 1,976 acres only

The CM informed that the Congress government had expedited the process of distributing sites in Kempe Gowda Layout. "Tenders have been invited for formation of roads and culverts. Though the government acquired 4,043 acres, over 2,015 acres are under litigation. A layouts would be formed on 1,976 acres," Siddaramaiah told Aravind Limbavali (BJP).